Excellence of the Qur’ân

Every person who has îmân is connected to the Qur’ân
in three ways. Each mu’min recites the Qur’ân, understands the
Qur’ân, and has to carry out the commands of the Qur’ân.

1. The recital of the Qur’ân either with understanding
or mere recital without understanding are both acts of worship. The result of
the recital will be the establishment of a strong bond between Allâh
and
the reciter. In âyah 45, sűrah 29, Allâh
has
commanded that the Qur’ân be recited. He says in the verse:

Recite that which has been revealed to you from the book, and establish salâh.
(29:45)

Imâm Tirmidhi
mentions
the following hadîth regarding the reward of mere recital without
understanding: Ibn Mas’űd
says
that Rasűlullâh
said,
“Whoever recites a letter from the Qur’ân, there is for him a reward for
it, and every good deed is multiplied ten times. I do not say that is
a letter, but alif is a letter, lâm is a letter, and mîm
is a letter.” (Tirmidhi)

Note: or
the three letters separately have no known meaning.

Imâm Ahmad ibn Hambal
said,
“I saw Allâh
in
my dream and asked Him, ‘O Sustainer, how have those who have drawn near to
You achieved this nearness?’ Allâh
replied,
‘It is achieved by my speech, (the Qur’ân) O Ahmad!’ Imâm Ahmad
said,
I enquired, ‘O Sustainer, is it by understanding Your speech or without
understanding it?’ Allâh
replied,
‘By understanding it as well as not understanding it.’

2. An earnest effort must however be made to understand
the Qur’ân. Allâh
exhorts
thus:

A book We have revealed to you, which is blessed, so that the people ponder
over its verses and so that the intelligent are admonished. (38:29)

3. Every effort must be made to act upon the teachings of
the Qur’ân. In order to do this, it is imperative that we are acquainted with
the laws of Sharî’ah. Allâh
says:

This is a book We have revealed, full of blessing, so follow it and abstain
(from wrong doings) so that you may be blessed. (6:155)

The Excellence of the Qur’ânic Recital

(A few noteworthy aspects)

The excellences of tilâwah (recital) of the Qur’ân
are far too many to mention here. In order to encourage the Muslims to recite
the Qur’ân as much as possible, a few ahâdîth are mentioned hereunder:

Sayyiduna ‘Uthmân
relates
that Rasűlullâh
has
said, “The best amongst you is the one who learns the Qur’ân and teaches it
(to others).” (Bukhâri)

Sayyidatuna ‘Â’ishah
reports
that Rasűlullâh
has
said, “The one who recites the Qur’ân and is well-versed in it will be in
the company of the angels who are all noble and righteous; and the one who
recites and falters in it and has difficulty in reciting it, (yet continues to
recite it), will receive a twofold reward.” (Bukhâri, Muslim)

Sayyiduna Abu ‘Umâmah al-Bâhiliy
reports
that he heard Rasűlullâh
say:
“You all (should) recite the Qur’ân for it will intercede for its reciters
on the day of Resurrection.” (Muslim)

The Excellence of Hifz-ul-Qur’ân

(Memorizing the Qur’ân)

Sayyiduna ‘Ali
reports
that Rasűlullâh
has
said, “Whoever re­cites the Qur’ân and memorizes it, and regards what it
makes lawful as lawful, and it’s unlawful as forbidden, will be admitted to
Paradise by Allâh. Allâh will also accept his intercession in respect of ten
of his family members on whom Hell was binding.” (Musnad Ahmad, Tirmidhi)

Sayyiduna Ibn ‘Abbâs
reports
that Rasűlullâh
has
said, “He in whose heart there is no part of the Qur’ân is like a decrepit
house.” (Tirmidhi, Dârimi)